Method for treating a patient having a spinal cord injury using phototherapy

ABSTRACT

A method of treating spinal cord injury (SCI) includes transcutaneously irradiating at least a portion of a spinal environment of the patient with light having a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm 2  at the portion of the spinal environment.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/713,087, filed Feb. 25, 2010, which is incorporated in its entiretyby reference herein and which is a divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/970,425, filed Jan. 7, 2008, which is incorporated in itsentirety by reference herein and which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/022,314, filed Dec. 23, 2004, which isincorporated in its entirety by reference herein and which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/820,443,filed Apr. 7, 2004 and now abandoned, which is incorporated in itsentirety by reference herein and which claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 60/460,421, filedApr. 7, 2003, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious clinical problem withapproximately eight thousands new cases every year. SCI occurs when atraumatic event results in damage to cells within the spinal cord orsevers the nerve tracts that relay signals up and down the spinal cord.The most common types of SCI include contusion and compression. Othertypes of injuries include lacerations, and central cord syndrome(specific damage to the corticospinal tracts of the cervical region ofthe spinal cord). Severe SCI often causes paralysis and loss ofsensation and reflex function below the point of injury, and alsoautonomic dysfunction affecting breathing, bowel and bladder control,and blood pressure. SCI patients are also prone to develop secondarymedical problems, such as bladder infections, pneumonias, and skinulcers.

Spinal cord damage often results in permanent disability due to theinability of axons within the central nervous system to regeneratefollowing an injury. While recent advances in emergency care andrehabilitation allow many SCI patients to survive, methods for reducingthe extent of injury and for restoring function are still limited. Acutetreatment for SCI includes techniques to relieve cord compression,prompt (within 8 hours of the injury) drug therapy with corticosteroidssuch as methylprednisolone to minimize cell damage, and stabilization ofthe vertebrae of the spine to prevent further injury. Despite vigorousresearch into the use of inflammatory drugs, ionizing irradiation,elimination of inhibitory factors in the spinal cord, provision ofneurotrophic factors, and cell transplantation, there currently is nocure for the neurological deficits seen following SCI.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the treatment of SCI bystimulating axon regeneration within the central nerve system. Oneaspect of the present invention provides methods of treating SCI withlow power laser irradiation (LPLI). Another aspect of the presentinvention provides methods of treating SCI by modulating a gene activityto stimulate axon regeneration. In this regard, the present inventionalso provides compositions that modulate genes expression relating tothe neuron regeneration after SCI. Another aspect of the presentinvention provides methods for evaluating the effectiveness of atreatment for SCI.

In one embodiment, there is provided a method of treating spinal cordinjury. The method comprises applying a light source to or about atleast a portion of a spinal environment, wherein the light source has awavelength of about 580 nm to about 850 nm, achieving a light density ofat least about 0.01 mW/cm² at the portion of spinal environment, andmodulating physiological activity with respect to the spinal environmentusing the light source. In preferred embodiments, the light source ispositioned about 50 cm or less from the portion of the spinalenvironment. The “spinal environment” comprises a spinal cord, spinalvasculature and the meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid overlying thespinal cord. In preferred embodiments, the physiological activity of themodulating step comprises facilitating axonal regeneration, reducingWallerian degeneration, and/or modulating one or more physiologicalactivities selected from the group consisting of immunological activity,gene expression, Schwann cell activity, the blood-brain barrier,neovascularization, astroglial scar formation, and growth factorproduction with respect to the spinal cord.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method of treating spinalcord injury comprising applying a first light source to a first portionof a skin surface overlying at least a portion of a spinal environment,wherein the light source has a wavelength of about 580 nm to about 850nm, wherein the light source and the first portion of the skin surfaceform a vector that generally intersects at least a portion of the spinalenvironment, achieving a light density of at least about 0.1 mW/cm² atthe portion of the skin surface, and maintaining the first light sourceto the portion of the skin surface generally for a first specifiedtreatment period. In a preferred embodiment, the method furthercomprises applying a second light source having a wavelength of about580 nm to about 850 nm to a second portion of the skin surface overlyingthe central nervous system of a mammal, and terminating the second lightsource after a second specified treatment period. The second portion ofskin surface in the second applying step preferably overlies at least aportion of the motor cortex of the brain or at least a portion of thespinal cord caudal to the site of spinal cord injury.

The methods preferably utilize light having a wavelength in the range ofabout 580 nm to about 850 nm, including from about 720 nm to about 820nm, and about 810 nm. The light source may be laser, including diodelaser, LED, or other suitable source, and in certain embodiments,preferably has a source power in the range of about 12.5 mW to about 50W.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a method fortreating spinal cord injury, comprising delivering an neuroregenerativeeffective amount of light energy to a target area of the spinal cordthat includes an area of neural injury, wherein delivering theneuroregenerative effective amount of light energy comprises deliveringa power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm² to the target area of thespinal cord. In a preferred embodiment, delivering a neuroregenerativeeffective amount of light energy to the target area of the spinal cordcomprises determining a surface power density of the light energysufficient to deliver a predetermined power density of light energy tothe target area of the spinal cord of at least about 0.01 mW/cm².

In accordance with yet another embodiment, there is provided a methodfor assessing treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury comprisingaccessing the spinal cord environment of a traumatic spinal cord injurypatient, obtaining a first sample of at least a portion of the spinalcord environment, evaluating at least one marker of traumatic spinalcord injury in the first sample; and treating the spinal cord injurypatient. The steps of the method may be performed in the recited orderor they may be performed in another order. In one embodiment, the methodfurther comprises reaccessing the spinal cord environment of a spinalcord injury patient, obtaining a second sample of at least a portion ofthe spinal cord environment, and evaluating at least one marker oftraumatic spinal cord injury in the second sample. Accessing may beperformed by lumbar puncture, and the samples may comprise cerebrospinalfluid or tissue from a needle biopsy. In one embodiment, the methodfurther comprises comparing at least one marker from the first sample toat least one marker from the second sample.

Several embodiments of the invention provide these advantages, alongwith others that will be further understood and appreciated by referenceto the written disclosure, figures, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and method of making the invention will be betterunderstood with the following detailed description of embodiments of theinvention, along with the accompanying illustrations, in which:

FIG. 1. a) Photograph of spectrophotometric analysis experimentalset-up. A smart fiber (arrow) is inserted below the skin of the rat, thelight source (arrowhead) is positioned above the skin for transcutaneousapplication of light. b) Graphical representation of transmission (inarbitrary units) through each layer of tissue, depending on wavelength(nm). Layer 1=skin, 2=loose connective tissue, 3=dense connectivetissue, 4=muscle, 5=vertebral column and spinal cord. The graphdemonstrates that wavelengths in the 770-810 nm range had the greatesttransmission, or penetration, through all levels. c) Human spinalsection transmission/scatter measurements. Sampling fiber diameter is 1mm.

FIG. 2. Photomicrographs of mini-ruby labeled axons and relatedquantitation. a) Photomicrograph of white matter 4 mm caudal to lesionsite in control rat. b) Photomicrograph of white matter 4 mm caudal tolesion in light treated rat. Note that mini-ruby labeled axons,indicated with arrows, are found at this distance only in the lighttreated group. Bar=43 μm. Comparisons of average axon number/animal (c)and average distance caudal to the lesion (d) are shown. p<0.01;**p<0.001 using one way ANOVA (analysis of variance). e) Number of axonscounted in control and light treated groups per mm caudal to the lesion.Bars represent mean+/−SEM (standard error or the mean).

FIG. 3. Photomicrographs of single and double labeled neurons at 10weeks post-injury. a) Numbers of HM (hydroxystilbamidinemethanesulfonate) labeled neurons (arrowheads) in the motor cortex, b)fast blue labeled neurons in the injection site at L3, and c) fast bluelabeled neurons in the motor cortex were similar in both groups. d)Graphical representation of comparison of double labeled neurons betweenlight treated and control groups. *p<0.05 using Mann Whitney U. Barsrepresent mean percentage of counted neurons+/−SEM. e-g) Double labeledneurons were found only in motor cortex of light treated rats. Arrowsindicate double labeled neurons, identifiable by green punctate label inblue cytoplasm, which is consistent with labeling pattern previouslydescribed. [Pyner et al., Neuroscience 100:549-556 (2000)]. Bar=67 μm(a-e); 34 μm (f-g).

FIG. 4. Angle of rotation (a), footfalls (b) and ladder beam crossingtime (c) measurements are presented for pre-surgical, 1 week and 9 weekspostsurgical time points. Significant improvement was found only in thelight treated group. Graph bars are mean percentage of pre-surgicalmeasurements+/SEM. *p<0.05 using repeated measures ANOVA with NewmanKeuls post-test between time points. **p<0.05 using one way ANOVA withTukey post-test between control and light treatment group at 9 week timepoint. d) Footprints from pre-surgical and 9 weeks post-surgicalanalysis. Notice the increased angle of rotation and smearing at 9 weeksin the control group. In the light treated group, the angle is similarto pre-surgical values and there is no smearing of the footprint.

FIG. 5. Gross observation of longitudinal H&E (hematoxylin and eosin)stained sections of the thoracic spinal cord. H&E representativesections for control (a, c) and light treated (b, d) groups. Increasesin cavity size were observed by 4 dpi (days post injury) in both groups(a, b) compared to 48 hours post-injury. By 14 dpi, spread of cavitationaway from the center of the lesion (*) was greater in the control group(c) than the light treated group (d), particularly in the rostraldirection. Cavitation was more prominent in the white matter (w) than inthe gray matter (g). All tissue is oriented in the same rostral/caudaldirection. Bar=250 mm.

FIG. 6. Immunohistochemistry of neutrophils, macrophages and activatedmicroglia. Immunohistochemistry for neutrophils (arrows; a, b) was foundin 4 dpi tissue from both control (a) and light treated (b) groups.Quantitation of immunolabeling for neutrophils is shown in (c).Immunolabeling for macrophages/activated microglia is demonstrated in(d-h). Panel (d) is a control section from 14 dpi, demonstrating cellsaccumulated in and around the lesion site (*). e) Light treated tissueat 14 dpi. f) Quantitation of immunolabeling for macrophage/activatedmicroglia. g) 16 dpi control tissue. h) 16 dpi light treated tissue. i)Negative control tissue. *p<0.001 between the control and light treatedgroups; n=5/group; ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Graph bars representmean+/−SEM. Bar=95 mm.

FIG. 7. Immunohistochemistry of astrocytes. Images of control tissue andlight treated tissue with antibody against GFAP (glial fibrillary acidicprotein) at 48 hours, 14 dpi and 16 dpi. a) Control tissue and b) lighttreated tissue at 48 hours. Heavy GFAP positive labeling demarcated thelesion in all control tissue, but only light banding near the lesionedge in light treated tissue. c) Control tissue and d) light treatedtissue at 14 dpi. *p<0.05 between tissues at 48 hours and 14 dpi. e)Control tissue and f) light treated tissue at 16 dpi. *p<0.05 betweencontrol and light treated tissue. g) GFAP fluorescence between controltissue and light treated tissue at 48 hours, 4 dpi, 14 dpi, 16 dpi and 5weeks. *p<0.05 between control and light treated tissues.

FIG. 8. Immunohistochemistry of T and B lymphocytes and Schwann cells.Images of 14 dpi tissue from control and light treated tissue aredemonstrated in this figure. Immunolabeling for T lymphocytes (arrows a,b) was restricted to the lesion site (*). a) Control tissue and b) lighttreated tissue at 14 dpi. c) Quantitation of T lymphocyteimmunolabeling. *p<0.05 between control and light treated tissue. d) Blymphocyte immunolabeling (arrows) in control tissue. e) Quantitation ofB lymphocytes immunolabeling. Schwann cell immunolabeling (arrows) nearthe lesion site (*) in control (f) and light treated (g) tissue. h)Quantitation of Schwann cell immunolabeling. Graph bars representmean+/−SEM (n=5/group; ANOVA followed by Tukey test). Bar=96 mm.

FIG. 9. GAPDH (Glyseraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) comparison.Internal control (GAPDH) expression revealed no significant differencebetween the control and LT (light therapy) groups (data from 6 hours and4 days post-injury collapsed into one group; no significant differenceseen for individual time points: data not shown). p>0.05 (Studentst-test); bars represent mean+/−SEM.

FIG. 10. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Four pro-inflammatorycytokines were semi-quantitated in this study. All samples were from thesite of spinal cord injury at 6 hours (H) and 4 days (D) post-injury. A)IL6 (interleukin 6) expression analysis revealed significant inhibitionof IL6 mRNA production by LT at 6 hours post-injury, but no significantdifference between groups at 4 days post-injury. B) Ethidium bromide-DNAcomplex fluorescence for IL6 from the control and LT groups, as well astheir corresponding GAPDH band, at 6 hours post-injury was digitallyphotographed. C) IL 1 b expression. D) TNFα (Tumor Necrosis Factor-a)expression. E) GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage-conony stimulating factor)expression. *p<0001 for comparison between control and LT group atindividual time point (ANOVA followed by Tukey post-test), barsrepresent ratio of gene of interest to internal control mean+/−SEM.

FIG. 11. Chemokine expression. Two chemokines were assessed in thisstudy. All samples were from the site of spinal cord injury at 6 hours(H) and 4 days (D) post-injury. A) MCP-1 (Monocyte chemotacticprotein-1) expression at 6 hours and 4 days after SCI. B) Representativegel bands for MCP-1 from the control and LT groups, as well as theircorresponding GAPDH band. C) MIP1a (mitochondrial intermediate peptidase1 a) expression at 6 hours and 4 days after SCI. *p<0.01 for comparisonbetween control and LT group at individual time point (ANOVA followed byTukey post-test), bars represent ratio of gene of interest to internalcontrol mean+/−SEM.

FIG. 12. iNOS (Inducible nitric oxide synthase), ICAM (Intrercellularadhesion molecules) and TGFβ (Transforming growth factor beta)expression. Expression of iNOS, ICAM and TGFβ were assessed at 6 hours(H) and 4 days (D) post-injury. A) iNOS expression at 6 hours and 4 dayspost-injury. B) ICAM expression. C) TGFβ expression. *p<0.01 forcomparison between control and LT group at individual time point (ANOVAfollowed by Tukey post-test), bars represent ratio of gene of interestto internal control mean+/−SEM.

FIG. 13. Axonal growth. Average axonal number caudal to the lesion sitewas determined at 3 weeks post-injury following assignment to 14 day, 21day, dual treatment with 14 day lesion site and days 11-15 motor cortextreatment, 7 day lesion site followed by 7 days of 1 mm/day caudalmovement of the treatment zone, and control groups. Error bars representthe average axonal number+/−SEM.

FIG. 14. Axonal distance. Regrowth distance caudal to the lesion site atthree weeks was assessed using mini-ruby retrograde tract tracing in thefive treatment groups in FIG. 13. Error bars represent the distance (mm)caudal to the lesion site+/−SEM.

FIG. 15. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production. VEGFproduction at three weeks post-injury was compared between the 14 daytreatment group and control group. VEGF production was measured inspinal cord tissue at the lesion site and 10 mm caudal to the lesionsite, bars representing fluorescent pixels/mm²+/−SEM.

FIG. 16. MCP-1 gene expression at one hour. Expression of MCP-1 wasassessed at one hour and compared to previously collected data at 6hours and 4 days post-injury. Error bars represent the ratio of mRNA(nessenger RNA) to GAPDH+/−SEM.

FIG. 17. NT3 (neurotrophin-3) gene expression at six hours. Expressionof NT3 was assessed at six hours post-injury in the lesion site of theLT group and at a lesion site and caudal site in the control group.Error bars represent the ratio to GAPDH+/−SEM.

FIG. 18. VEGF gene expression at six hours. Expression of NT3 wasassessed at six hours post-injury in the lesion site of the LT group andat a lesion site and caudal site in the control group. Error barsrepresent the ratio to GAPDH+/−SEM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although axons have the ability to regrow following injury, the spinalcord environmental factors may affect this regrowth. Studies of spinalcord injury (SCI) patients suggest that secondary immunological andvascular effects of SCI cause a greater impairment to recovery than theprimary insult to the spinal cord. [Fitch, et al. J. Neurosci.,19:8182-8198 (1999), Dusart and Schwab, Eur. J. Neurosci., 6:712-724(1994), Koshinaga and Whittemore, J. Neurotrauma, 12:209-222 (1995), andPopovich, et al., J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 61:623-633 (2002)]Researchers have investigated the invasion and activation of immunecells as a potential mediator of secondary injury, includingneutrophils, macrophages, microglia, astrocytes and T and B lymphocytes[Dusart and Schwab, Eur. J. Neurosci., 6:712-724 (1994), **]. Thesecells are primarily activated or drawn into the lesion area bypro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines expressed following injury[Barholdi and Schwab, Eur. J. Neurosci., 9:1422-1438 (1997), Beneviste,Am. J. Physiol. 263:C1-C16 (1992), Klusman and Schwab, Brain Res.,762:173-184 (1997), Pan, et al., Neurosci. Res., 68:315-322 (2002)].Recent evidence suggests that alteration of cell invasion and activationafter SCI may improve functional recovery of spinal cord patients.Vascular effects from breakdown of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB),cytotoxic swelling, hemorrhage and neovascularization may also play arole in the recovery of spinal cord patients. Other secondary phenomenainclude calcium-, free radical-, nitric oxide- and glutamate-mediatedcell injury. It is not known whether the neuronal and axonal changesthat occur with SCI, such as demyelination, Schwannosis and Walleriandegeneration, are primary or secondary to these pathological processes.

Light therapy (LT), also known as photo-biomodulation or low power laserirradiation (LPLI), is a non-invasive treatment which evokes biologicaleffects via the absorption of light. LPLI has been shown to increaseneuronal survival and regeneration in the peripheral nervous system[Anders, et al., Surg. Med, 13:72-82 (1993), Snyder, et al., Surg. Med,31:216-222 (2002)]. Investigation has shown that LT, through theabsorption of light by a cellular photoreceptor, rather than a heatingeffect on the cell [Anders, et al., Surg. Med. 13:72-82, (1993), andMochizuki-Oda, et al., Neurosci. Lett. 323:207-210 (2002)]; can modulateATP, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, depending on the treatmentparameters applied [Saperia, et al., Biochem. Biophys: Res. Commun.138:1123-1128 (1986); Greco, et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.163:1428-1434 (1989); Lam, et al., Lasers Life Sci. 1:61-77 (1986);Funk, et al., J. Photochem. Photobiol. B:BBiol. 16:347-355 (1992);Mochizuki-Oda, et al., Supra (2002)]. Unlike treatment of acute SCI withcorticosteroids, LPLI is not associated with side effects of increasedinfection risk and/or glucose intolerance.

LT research, however, is not extensive within the area of centralnervous system (CNS) injury and no study to date has assessed theability of light to regenerate specific tracts within the spinal cord ordetermined the recovery of specific locomotor functions. Although theexact mechanism of how LT causes change in the spinal cord is unknown,LT may act through modulation of mitochondrial activity by absorption oflight by components of the electron transport chain, alteration inreactive oxygen species production, or through modulation of any of theprocesses mentioned previously.

Although progress has been made in recent years in the treatment of SCI,there exists a need to develop new treatment for SCI, to improve theefficiency of the existing methods such as LT, and to develop methods tobetter evaluate the effectiveness of the new treatment modalities.

One aspect of the present invention relates to treatment of SCI usingLPLI. It remains unclear exactly what happens to light as it propagatesthrough human tissues, particularly, when more then one tissue type isinvolved (e.g., skin, muscle, bone, etc.). The analytical solutions ofthe problem are quite complex and mostly intractable, or, whensimplified, inaccurate. The numerical solutions are oversimplifications,or require unavailable/unreliable data, and produce inaccuratesolutions. Early studies of light propagation in animal tissuessuggested that more light penetrates the deep tissues than expected fromthe simple analytical solutions or the numerical solutions using ex-vivomeasurements of single tissues; using data from existing literatureanalyzing the propagation of light through complex/multiple tissue type“samples” produced overly pessimistic results. Empirical studies usingcadavers reaffirm the earlier findings with animal tissues.

While the expectation/knowledge that more light gets through thanpredicted makes non-invasive, transcutaneous delivery of light in thetreatment of deep tissue possible, relatively large amounts of energyare still needed at the surface of the skin. Most of the energy at theskin will be absorbed by the tissue between the skin and the targettissue; such absorption will increase the tissue's temperature at a rateproportional to the power density, i.e., the number of photons per unitarea per unit time.

The LPLI therapy of the present invention is designed to minimize therequired power density at the skin while accounting for the tissuescattering to deliver appropriate “treatment doses” to the targettissue. In one embodiment, the laser light has a wave length of about580 to about 850 nm. In another embodiment, the laser light has a wavelength of about 650 nm to about 850 nm. In still another embodiment, thelaser light has a wave length preferably about 770 to about 820 nm, andmost preferably at about 810 nm. In one embodiment, the laser light hasan output power of about 50 mW to about 50 W. In another embodiment, thelaser light with an output power of about 100 mW to about 6 W, and mostpreferably at about 125 mW to about 5.5 W is applied transcutaneously toa mammal at the site of acute injury to the corticospinal tract (CST)for about 7 to about 21 consecutive days and preferably about 14 days.In one embodiment, light irradiation of the brain is performed inaddition to irradiation of the lesion site, preferably the motor cortex.In one embodiment, the irradiation zone of the treatment site is changedduring the treatment period. In one embodiment, the irradiation zone isenlarged during the treatment period. In one embodiment, the irradiationzone is periodically enlarged and the treatment dose is increased. Inone embodiment, the irradiation zone is moved during treatment. In oneembodiment, the treatment zone is periodically moved during treatmentalong the path of expected axonal regrowth. In one embodiment, treatmentis initiated within about 24 hours after injury. In another embodiment,the treatment preferably begins immediately after the injury. As is wellunderstood by one skilled in the art, the light density, output, totaldaily dosage, and the length of the treatment period may vary dependingon the form, severity, and site of the particular SCI. In some uses ofLT, increases in specific cellular activities are provided, while inother uses of LT, decreases in particular cellular activities areprovided. In still other uses of LT, a combination of inhibitory andpromotional effects on cellular activity are provided by LT.

FIG. 1 shows the light transmission through various kinds of tissuesbetween a light source and rat spinal cord. The peak penetration throughall tissue layers (i.e., skin, loose connective tissue, dense connectivetissue, muscle, and vertebral column) to the spinal cord was foundbetween the 770 nm and 810 nm wavelengths (FIG. 1 b). FIG. 1 c shows thetransmitted light intensity distribution in a human spinal section. Thetransmission measurements are described in Table 1.

In another embodiment, injured rat spinal cord is transcutaneouslyirradiated at the lesion site for a total of 14 days with an 810 nmdiode laser (Thor International, UK) with 150 mW output through adelivery fiber optic (2,997 seconds treatment time/day). The dailydosage was 1589 J/cm² (irradiance=0.53 W/cm², 450 J).

As shown in FIG. 2, anterograde mini-ruby analysis reveals that theaverage number of mini-ruby labeled axons in the light treated group wassignificantly greater than that of the control group (p<0.0001, one wayANOVA (analysis of variance) with Tukey post-test; FIG. 2 a), with anaverage of 199.2+/−12.46 labeled axons caudal to the lesion. Themini-ruby labeled axons in the light treated group extended an averageof 8.7+/−0.75 mm caudal to the lesion, significantly longer than thecontrol group (p<0.01, one way ANOVA with Tukey post-test; FIG. 2 b).The maximum distance traveled over 5 weeks in the light treated groupwas 14 mm caudal to the lesion, which/was reached by 8% of the countedaxons (FIG. 2 e).

In another preferred embodiment, the effectiveness of the LPLI treatmentis confirmed by a double-label, retrograde tracing analysis. At the timeof CST lesion, transected neurons are labeled by an anterograde tracer,hydroxystilbamidine methanesulfonate (HM); inserted into the lesion. Tenweeks after CST lesion, axons terminating at vertebral level L3,approximately 24 mm caudal to the initial lesion, are labeled byinjection of fast blue into the ventral horn. Numbers of single (HM orfast blue) and double (neurons with axons that are transected and regrewto L3) labeled neurons in the motor cortex are assessed using unbiasedstereology.

As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, double labeled neurons, with bothHM and fast blue labeling, are found only in the light treated group(FIGS. 3 d, e, f) and the percentage of these neurons represented astatistically significant increase in comparison to the control group(FIG. 3 d, p<0.05, Mann-Whitney U Test). This increase in doublelabeling indicates that only CST axons in the light treated group regrewand terminated in the gray matter of vertebral level L3 aftertransaction.

In another embodiment of the invention, injured rat spinal cords wereevaluated after LT of the lesion site for three weeks, two weeks withirradiation of the motor cortex, and one week followed by 1 mm/daymovement of the irradiation zone caudal to the lesion site. Axonalregeneration was assessed using mini-ruby retrograde tract tracing aspreviously described. No differences were found between treatmentregimens for the number of axons identified at a given distance (FIG.14), but statistically significant differences were found in axon lengthin the dual treatment and moving treatment groups (FIG. 13).

Growth factor production was also assessed three weeks post-injury.Significant increases in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)production was found in the tissue of the two week treatment group atboth the lesion site and 10 mm caudal to the lesion site. No change wasnoted the production of neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and brain-derivedneurotrophic factor (BDNF).

In yet another preferred embodiment, the axonal regeneration andreinnervation are evaluated by two functional tests, the ladder/gridwalking test and footprint analysis, preformed prior to and after CSTlesion. The measurements taken include footfalls (failure of handpass tograsp ladder rungs and falling below the plane of the ladder), time tocross the ladder, base of support, stride length, and angle of rotation.As shown in FIG. 4, in one embodiment, one week after CST lesion,experimental rats had significant impairments in angle of rotation(p<0.05, FIG. 4 a, repeated measures ANOVA with Newman-Keuls post-test)and footfalls (p<p.05, FIG. 4 b) in comparison to pre-surgicalmeasurements in both control and light treated groups. An increase inladder cross time was also observed in both groups at this time point(FIG. 4 c).

At 9 weeks post-injury, animals in the light treated group had nosignificant difference (p>0.45; FIGS. 4 a, c) in angle of rotation(p>0.05; FIG. 4 d) and ladder beam cross time in comparison to thepre-surgical measurements, demonstrating a recovery of these functions.Comparison of these measurements in the light treated and control groupsrevealed a significant improvement in the light treated group (P<0.05,FIGS. 4 a, c). Comparison of ladder beam cross time and angle ofrotation measurements in light treated and control groups also revealeda significant improvement in the light treated group (p<0.05, one wayANOVA with Tukey post-test; FIG. 4 a, c). Measurements for rats thatreceived CST lesions but were not light treated remained at the 1 weekpost-surgery levels at this time point, were significantly greater thanpre-surgical measurements (p<0.05).

These measurements suggest that LT promotes significant improvement inspecific CST controlled functions after lesioning, and demonstrateparticular improvement in functions mediated by innervation from theL1-L3 vertebral level. Although in some cases the percentage of injuredneurons that regrow is small, studies have shown that functionalimprovement can be found with very small amounts of axonal regrowth.[Kalderon & Fuks, Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:11179-84 (1996), Nashet al., J. Neurosci., 22:7111-20 (2002), Kalderon & Fuks, Proc. Nati.Acad. Sci. USA, 93:11185-90 (1996), Bregman, Functional Neuraltransplantation., eds. Dunnett & Bjorklund (Raven Press, New York, pp.489-529 (1993)), The examples described above and in further detailbelow confirm the observable functional improvements seen.

In yet another embodiment, the effectiveness of the LPLI treatment isevaluated by cell invasion and activation. In one embodiment, the dorsalhalves of spinal cords are lesioned in adult rats and transcutaneouslyirradiated for a maximum of 14 days, beginning immediately aftersurgery, using a 150 mW 810 nm laser (1589 J/cm²). The response ofmacrophages/activated microglia, neutrophils, T and B lymphocytes,astrocytes and Schwann cells to SCI and LPLI is quantified byimmunohistochemistry at 2, 4, 14 and 16 days and 5 weeks post-injury. Asshown in FIGS. 5-8, LPLI suppresses invasion/activation of macrophagesand microglia as well as T lymphocytes.

Macrophage and microglia response was measured using ED1, an antibodyagainst a macrophage/microglial lysosomal glycoprotein. Macrophages andactivated microglia were not distinguished, since activated microgliaexpress the same cellular surface molecules and have the same morphologyas blood borne macrophages. ED1 expression in the macrophage/activatedmicroglia was highest at 48 hours and 14 days post-injury. Thelight-treated groups exhibited statistically significant reductions inED1 expression at 48 hours and 14 days (p<0.001), but not at 16 days(p>0.05).

Astrocyte migration and activity was assessed using antibodies againstglial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an intermediate filamentexpressed primarily in astrocytes, were used to assess astrocytefunction. Astrocytes are known sources of growth factors such as NGF(nerve growth factor), FGF-2 (fibroblast growth factor-2), PDGF(platlet-derived growth factor), CNTF (ciliary neutrophic factor), IGF(insulin-like growth factor)), extracellular matrix molecules (laminin,fibronectin, vitronectin) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 (intercellularadhesion molecule-1), NCAM (Neural cell adhesion molecule), N-cadherin).The activation of astrocytes is delayed two days by LT, with a peak inactivation occurring at 4 days post-injury. Statistically significantreductions in astrocyte activity were found in the treated rats at 48hours and 14 days (p<0.05). A slight, statistically significant increasein astrocyte activity was found at 16 days (p<0.05).

T lymphocyte activity was also evaluated using UCHL1, an antibodyagainst the surface glycoprotein CD45. T lymphocyte activity peaked at48 hours post-injury in both treated and control groups, withstatistically significant reductions at 16 days post-injury compared toT lymphocyte activity at 48 hours. UCHL1 expression in the light-treatedrats compared to control rats was significantly decreased at 14 dayspost-injury. (p<0.001).

A similar trend is found in the migration and activation of Blymphocytes and neutrophils, in which decreases are found in the lighttreated group, although these are not statistically significant. LPLIappeared to have no effect on Schwann cell migration into the spinalcord. Schwann cell migration was identified by antibody labeling of5100, a neuro-specific calcium binding protein. These results indicatethat light alters the spinal cord environment and the immune responsefollowing SCI.

Another aspect relates to cytokine and chemokine genes as markers andtherapeutical targets/agents of SCI. Cytokines and chemokines areintegral in the inflammatory response of tissue to injury. FollowingSCI, cytokines and chemokines are upregulated and play an important rolein cellular invasion/activation and secondary damage. LPLI hassignificant effects on the inflammatory response of cells in vitro andin various in vivo injury models. The impact of LPLI on cytokine andchemokine gene expression after SCI are evaluated. Specifically, reversetranscriptase—polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used to detect theexpression of several genes, including the pro-inflammatory cytokinesinterleukin (IL) 1β, IL6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), andgranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), thechemokines macrophage inflammatory protein 1 and monocytechemoattractant protein (MCP-1), as well as inducible nitric oxidesynthase (iNOS), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and transforminggrowth factor β (TGFb). All genes studied are expressed after SCI inboth the LPLI and control groups, however, expression of IL6, MCP-1 andiNOS were significantly suppressed in the LPLI group. In one experiment,IL6 expression is 171 fold greater in the control group than the LPLIgroup at 6 hours post-injury (p<0.001). MCP-1 and iNOS are alsosuppressed at 6 hours post-injury by LPLI, with 3 and 5 fold decreases(p<0.01), respectively. These genes are hereby designated as SCI-relatedgenes (SRGs).

In one embodiment of the invention, RT-PCR was used to evaluate geneexpression one hour post-injury. No significant differences were foundin the gene expression of MCP-1 (FIG. 16, including previous studyresults at 6 hours and 4 days), MIP1α (mitochondrial intermediatepeptidase 1a), IL1β,TNFα or IL6 at one hour. In one embodiment, RT-PCRwas used to evaluate gene expression of growth factors, including NT3(FIG. 17), VEGF (FIG. 18) and BDNF at six hours post-injury. Nosignificant differences were found, but a trend toward was noted atlonger time periods post-injury.

Therefore, without limitation as to mechanism, it appears thatmodulation of the expression of an SRG may ameliorate SCI when the SRGis expressed at levels similar or substantially similar to that in LPLItreated animals. Similarly, modulating the activity of an SRG product(e.g. a protein encoded by an SRG or a polynucleotide transcribed froman SRG) may ameliorate SCI when the activity of the SRG product is atlevels similar or substantially similar to that in LPLI treated animals.

In one aspect, SRGs whose level of expression, which signifies theirquantity or activity, is correlated with the presence of SCI. In certainpreferred embodiments, one may detect the presence of an SRG product. Inanother aspect of the invention, the expression levels of SRGs aredetermined in a particular subject sample for which either diagnosis orprognosis information is desired. The level of expression of a number ofSRGs simultaneously provides an expression profile, which is essentiallya “fingerprint” of the presence or activity of an SRG or plurality ofSRGs that is unique to the state of the cell or tissue. In certainembodiments, comparison of relative levels of expression is indicativeof the severity of SCI, and as such permits diagnostic and prognosticanalysis. Moreover, by comparing relative expression profiles of SRGsfrom tissue samples taken at different points in time, e.g., pre- andpost-therapy and/or at different time points within a course of therapy,information regarding which genes are important in each of these stagesis obtained. The identification of genes that are differentiallyexpressed in SCI versus normal tissue, as well as differentiallyexpressed genes after SCI, allows the use of the presently disclosedmethods in a number of ways. For example, comparison of expressionprofiles of SRGs at different stages of the SCI provides a method forlong-term prognosis. In another example mentioned above, the evaluationof a particular treatment regime may be evaluated, including whether aparticular drug or other therapy will act to improve the long-termprognosis in a particular patient.

The discovery of these differential expression patterns for individualor panels of SRGs allows for screening of test compounds and othertreatment modalities with the goal of modulating a particular expressionpattern. For example, screening can be done for compounds and methodsthat will convert an expression profile for a poor prognosis to one fora better prognosis. In certain embodiments, this may be done by makingbiochips comprising sets of the significant SRGs, which can then be usedin these screens. These methods can also be done on the protein level;that is protein expression levels of the SRGs can be evaluated fordiagnostic and prognostic purposes or to screen test compounds. Forexample, in relation to these embodiments, significant SRGs may compriseSRGs which are determined to have modulated activity or expression inresponse to a therapy regime. Alternatively, the modulation of theactivity or expression of an SRG may be correlated with the diagnosis orprognosis of SCI. In addition, the SRGs can be administered for genetherapy purposes, including the administration of antisense nucleicacids, or proteins (including dominant mutants of SRG encoded proteins,antibodies to SRG encoded proteins and other modulators of SRG encodedproteins) administered as therapeutic drugs.

In one embodiment, body fluid/tissue for the SRG screen may be obtainedminimally invasively by lumbar puncture to obtain cerebrospinal fluidand/or a needle biopsy tissue sample. In another embodiment, bodyfluid/tissue for the SRG screen may be obtained during surgical repairof the vertebrae.

In another embodiment, a product of an SRG, either in the form of apolynucleotide or a polypeptide, can be used as a therapeutic compoundof the invention. In yet other embodiments, a modulator of SRGexpression or the activity of an SRG product may be used as atherapeutic compound of the invention, or may be used in combinationwith one or more other therapeutic compositions or methods of theinvention. Administration of such a therapeutic may suppress bioactivityof an SRG product, and therefore may be used to ameliorate SCI.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Spectrophotometric Measurement

An incoherent broad band white light was directed at the surface of theskin in the low thoracic region of five adult Sprague Dawley rats. Ratswere anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/Kg, I.P.(intraperitoneal)) prior to all measurements. A smart, tissue-activatedoptical fiber probe [Ilev, I et al., Proc Spie 4616:220-228 (2002)] wasinserted sequentially into the skin, sub-cutaneous connective tissuelayer, deep connective tissue layer, muscle and the spinal cord withinthe vertebral column. At each of these layers, a transmission spectrumin the range of 500-1200 nm was collected while white light was appliedto the skin surface.

Example 2 Corticospinal Tract Lesion

Thirty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were used in this study. For allsurgical techniques, rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital(50 mg/Kg, I.P.). Dorsal hemisection was performed by an investigatorblinded to group assignment. The ninth thoracic vertebra was identifiedand a laminectomy was performed to expose the spinal cord. A suture waspassed beneath the dorsal funiculus. Iridectomy scissors were used tocarefully incise this isolated portion of the spinal cord, transectingthe CST. Inspection of the lesion and visualization of the central graycommissure verified that the CST had been completely transected. Afterthe hemisection was completed, the exposed spinal cord was covered withgelfoam (Pharmacia, Upjohn; Kalamazoo, Mich.), and the overlying musclesand skin were sutured. During the recovery period, urinary bladders weremanually expressed until spontaneous voiding returned approximately 1-2days post-injury.

Example 3 Retrograde Labeling

At the time of CST lesion, gelfoam soaked in hydroxystilbamidinemethanesulfonate (HM; 3% in 0.9% saline; Molecular Probes, Eugene,Oreg.) was inserted into the lesion site of 20 rats. Ten weeks after thesurgery, a laminectomy was performed at vertebral level L3,approximately 24 mm caudal to the original lesion site, and 1 μA of a 2%fast blue solution (in PBS, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) was bilaterallyinjected (0.5 μl into each side) into the spinal cord at a depth of 1.3mm.

Example 4 Anterograde Labeling

Five weeks after CST lesion, 10% tetramethylrhodamine biotinylateddextran (mini-ruby, Molecular Probes) was injected into the motor cortexof one group of 10 rats (n=5 per experimental group) using stereotaxiccoordinates (from bregma, −0.11 AP (anteroposterior) and ±1.60 mL(mediolateral); −1.33 AP and ±1.50 mL; −2.85 AP and ±1.40 mL;depth=1.0-1.2 mm). 2 μl of mini-ruby was injected into each of the 6sites, for a total injection volume of 12 μl.

Example 5 Tissue Analysis for Labeling Detection

Eight days after the injections of mini-ruby or fast blue, rats wereperfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Brains and spinal cords werecarefully dissected, post-fixed for 24 hours and cryoprotected in 30%sucrose for 24 hours prior to sectioning of the tissue at a thickness of20 μm. Sections for counting mini-ruby labeled axons from the lesionsite to 16 mm caudal to the lesion were collected and mounted at a ratioof 1/6. Mini-ruby labeled axons were counted at 0.5 mm intervals using aRITC (rhodamine B isothiocyanate) filter (excitation 528-553 nm) and 20×magnifications. Total axons were counted and the average number of axonsper section was determined.

For neuronal counting, cortical sections were collected and mounted at aratio of 1/8. The fractionator method of unbiased stereology was used tocount HM and/or fast blue labeled neurons in the motor cortex (2.6 mmfrom midline to lateral edge of brain per hemisphere). The percentage ofneurons that regenerated an axon was calculated according to:

$= {\frac{{Double}\mspace{14mu} {labeled}\mspace{14mu} {neurons}}{{{Fast}\mspace{14mu} {Blue}} + {HM} + {{Double}\mspace{14mu} {labeled}\mspace{14mu} {neurons}}} \times 100}$

Cortical and spinal cord injection sites were studied prior to countingto ensure labeling efficacy; only those with adequate injections,without leakage of the tracer significant distances away from theinjection site, and with adequate uptake into the intended neurons, wereincluded in the final analysis.

Example 6 Light Treatment

Beginning immediately after transection of the CST, half of the rats(randomly assigned; n=15/group), were transcutaneously irradiated at thelesion site for a total of 14 consecutive days with an 810 nm diodelaser (Thor International, UK; 150 mW output through a delivery fiberoptic, 2,997 seconds treatment time/day). Dosage was 1589 J/cm² per day(irradiance=0.53 W/cm², 450 J).

Example 7 Functional Testing

One week prior, and 1 and 9 weeks after dorsal hemisection surgery, thesame rats undergoing retrograde labeling were trained and then tested ontwo functional tests. One test required rats to walk across a ladderbeam (Columbus Instruments, Columbus, Ohio) that recorded the length oftime required to cross the beam as well as the number of footfalls. Thistest was videotaped for confirmation. Rats also underwent footprintanalysis: handpass were dipped in ink and the rats walked across sheetsof white paper. Base of support, stride length and angle of rotationwere analyzed as described previously [Kunkel-Bagden, E et al., ExpNeurol 119:153-164 (1993); Hamada Y, et al., J Neurochem 66:1525-1531(1996)].

Example 8 Statistical Analysis

Functional test data are presented as mean percentage of baseline scoresrecorded one week prior to surgery+/−SEM. Neuronal counts are presentedas mean percentage of total neuronal number counted+/−SEM. Axonal countsare presented as mean+/− SEM. Functional data were analyzed usingRepeated Measures ANOVA with Newman-Keuls post-test to assess changesover time or one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-test to assess differencesbetween groups at individual time points. Axonal count data wereanalyzed using One Way ANOVA, with Tukey posttest. Neuronal count datawere analyzed using Mann-Whitney U analysis.

Example 9 Spectrophotometric Analysis LPLI

A series of experiments involving in vivo spectrophotometric analysiswere performed to assess whether transcutaneous application of 810 nmlaser diode emission with an output power of 150 mW was able topenetrate to the depth of the spinal cord (FIG. 1 a). Peak penetrationthrough all tissue layers to the spinal cord was found between the 770nm and 810 nm wavelengths (FIG. 1 b). Six percent, or approximately 9mW, of the initial power output penetrates to the spinal cord. Thesedata show that 810 nm light, with an adequate amount of energy, reachesthe spinal cord.

Example 10 Anterograde Tracer Analysis of Axon Regeneration after LPLITreatment of SCI

To determine if application of 810 nm light to the spinal cord increasedaxonal growth, Ln anterograde tracer, mini-ruby (Molecular Probes,Eugene, Oreg.), was injected 5 weeks after CST lesion. Analysis revealedthat all mini-ruby labeled axons were found in the white matter, in theregion of the spinal cord normally occupied by the CST (FIGS. 2 a, b).There were few (30.72+/−16.9 axons per animal) mini-ruby labeled axonscaudal to the lesion in the control group (FIG. 2 c). These labeledaxons extended an average distance of 2.9+/−0.84 mm caudal to the lesion(FIG. 2 d), with a maximal distance of 7 mm reached by 17% of countedaxons (FIG. 2 e), which is comparable to spontaneous post-lesionalsprouting previously reported [Li et al., Neurosci., 61:133-139 (1994)].The average number of mini-ruby labeled axons in the light treated groupwas significantly greater than that of the control group (p<0.0001, oneway ANOVA with Tukey post-test; FIG. 2 a), with an average of199.2+/−12.46 labeled axons caudal to the lesion. The mini-ruby labeledaxons in the light treated group extended an average of 8.7+/−0.75 mmcaudal to the lesion, significantly longer than the control group(p<0.01, one way ANOVA with Tukey post-test; FIG. 2 b). The maximumdistance traveled over 5 weeks in the light treated group was 14 mmcaudal to the lesion, which was reached by 8% of the counted axons (FIG.2 e).

Example 11 Double-Label Analysis of Axon Regeneration after LPLITreatment of SCI

Anterograde analysis does not definitively determine whether transectedaxons have regrown past the lesion, as spared axons may also be countedcaudal to the lesion. Therefore, to determine if LPLI promotesregeneration of transected axons, a double label, retrograde tracinganalysis was performed. Based on the mini-ruby data, axons in the lighttreated group grew at a rate of 0.25-0.4 mm per day. Using this data, wecalculated that axons would likely need at least 10 weeks in order toreach the mid-lumbar region and innervate motor neurons responsible forlower limb function. At the time of CST lesion, transected neurons werelabeled by an anterograde tracer, hydroxystilbamidine methanesulfonate(HM), inserted into the lesion. Ten weeks after CST lesion, axonsterminating at vertebral level L3, approximately 24 mm caudal to theinitial lesion, were labeled by injection of fast blue into the ventralhorn. Numbers of single (HM or fast blue) and double (neurons with axonsthat were transected and regrew to L3) labeled neurons in the motorcortex were assessed using unbiased stereology.

Analysis of single labeled neuron number revealed no significantdifference (p>0.05) between control and light treated groups, suggestingno difference in labeling efficacy between groups (FIGS. 3 a, b, c). Theaverage number of HM labeled neurons is 8,860+/−3408 in the controlgroup and 13,270+/−3236 in the light treated group, which is comparableto the number of CST axons reported in the lower thoracic region of thespinal cord [Brosamle, C. et al., J Comp Neurol 386:293-303 (1997);Hicks, P. et al., Exp Neurol 56: 410-420 (1977)]. The average number offast blue labeled neurons is 128.9+/108.6 in the control group and130.9+/−119.8 in the light treated group, which is comparable to thenumber of neurons found in the motor cortex after injection of aretrograde tracer into the ventral, uncrossed portion of the CST atvertebral level L4 [Brosamle, C. et al., J Comp Neurol 386:293-303(1997)]. Fast blue has been shown to spread approximately 2 mm from itsinjection site [Kalderon, N. et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA93:11179-11184 (1996)], therefore neurons in laminae IH-VI, whereventral CST axons terminate; may have taken up the tracer. Since crossedand uncrossed axons of the CST originate from the same area of the motorcortex [Brosamle, C. et al., supra (1997)], it is likely that these fastblue labeled neurons are from the ventral, uncrossed CST that was notlesioned in the surgical procedure. The uncrossed CST axons, however, donot play a significant role in motor function in the rat [Whishaw, Q etal., Behav Brain Res 134:323-36 (2002)].

Double labeled neurons, with both HM and fast blue labeling, were foundonly in the light treated group (FIGS. 3 d, e, f) and the percentage ofthese neurons represented a statistically significant increase incomparison to the control group (FIG. 3 d, p<0.05, Mann-Whitney U Test).This increase in double labeling indicates that only CST axons in thelight treated group regrew and terminated in the gray matter ofvertebral level L3 after transaction.

This study revealed that double labeled neurons accounted forapproximately 30% of the number of mini-ruby labeled axons observed at 5weeks post-lesion in the light treated group. As double labelingrepresents neurons with axons that terminated in the L3 area, it isunderstandable that the total number of regenerating axons found at theT12 level at 5 weeks post-injury would be greater.

Example 12 Functional Evaluation of Axon Regeneration after LPLITreatment of SCI

Complete lesion of the dorsal portion of the adult rat CST at vertebrallevel T9 results in loss of several CST controlled functions [Whishaw, Qet al., Behav Brain Res 134:323-36 (2002); Kunkel-Bagden, E et al., ExpNeurol 119:153-64 (1993)]. To determine if the axonal regeneration andreinnervation resulted in functional improvement, performance of rats intwo functional tests, the ladder/grid walking test and footprintanalysis, was assessed prior to and after CST lesion. Five measurementswere taken, including footfalls (failure of hindpaws to grasp ladderrungs and falling below the plane of the ladder), time to cross theladder, base of support, stride length, and angle of rotation. Data arepresented as mean percentage of pre-surgical measurement, to control forvariations among animals.

One week after CST lesion, rats had significant impairments in angle ofrotation (p<0.05, FIG. 4 a, repeated measures ANOVA with Newman-Keulspost-test) and footfalls (p<0.05, FIG. 4 b) in comparison topre-surgical measurements in both control and light treated groups. Anincrease in ladder cross time was also observed in both groups at thistime point (FIG. 4 c).

At 9 weeks post-injury, rats underwent these functional tests again. Atthis time point, animals in the light treated group had no significantdifference (p_(>)0.05; FIG. 4 a, c) in angle of rotation (FIG. 4 d) andladder beam cross time in comparison to the pre-surgical measurements,demonstrating a recovery of these functions. Comparison of ladder beamcross time and angle of rotation measurements in light treated andcontrol groups also revealed a significant improvement in the lighttreated group (p<0.05, one way ANOVA with Tukey post-test; FIG. 4 a, c).Measurements for rats that received CST lesions but were not lighttreated remained at the 1 week post-surgery levels at this time point,significantly greater than pre-surgical measurements (p<0.05).

Angle of rotation and ladder cross time are both associated with CSTfunction and are significantly lengthened by CST lesion [Kunkel-Bagden,E et al., Exp Neurol 119:153-64 (1993); Metz, A et al., J NeurosciMethods 115:169-79 (2002)]. Ladder crossing time is positivelycorrelated with hindlimb errors in step placement [Metz, A et al., JNeurosci Methods 115:169-79 (2002)]. We found a significant increase infootfalls in both control and light treated animals post-surgery(p<0.05, FIG. 4 b), but there was no significant difference betweenthese two groups. However, analysis of errors in ladder crossing,including correct placement of hindpaws on ladder rungs and grasping ofladder rungs, was not assessed in this study and may have been modifiedby light treatment, leading to the observed improvement in crossingtime.

No significant change was found in stride length or in base of supportin either group at any time point after CST lesion (p>0.05, data notshown). Previous studies have shown that CST lesion in adult rats doesnot necessarily impair these functions, as this lesion does not affectthe rubrospinal or propriospinal tracts, which play a greater role inthese functions than the CST [Kunkel-Bagden, E et al., Exp Neurol 116:40-51 (1992); Harriers, P et al., J. Neurotrauma 18:187-201 (2001)].

These data suggest that LT promotes significant improvement in specificCST controlled functions after lesioning. This study demonstratedparticular improvement in functions mediated by innervation from theL1-L3 vertebral level. Similar results have been found with othertreatment modalities, such as transplantation of fetal tissue[Kunkel-Bagden, E et al., Exp Neurol 116: 40-51 (1992); Kunkel-Bagden,E. et al. Exp Brain Res 81:25-34 (1990)].

Example 13 Dorsal Hemisection of Spinal Cord

Twenty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-300 g, Taconic Farms,Germantown, N.Y.) were used in this study under an approved UniformedServices University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC)protocol. Food and water were provided ad libitum and the rats wereexposed to 12-hour cycles of light and dark periods.

Rats were randomly assigned to two groups (LT group, n=10; controlgroup, n=10). Investigators were blinded to the group assignment priorto dorsal hemisection surgery. Animals were anesthetized with sodiumpentobarbital (50 mg/Kg, I.P.) and placed on an isothermal heating padwarmed to 37° C. The ninth thoracic vertebra was identified and alaminectomy was performed to expose the spinal cord between T8 and T10.The dorsal funiculus was isolated by passing a suture thread through thespinal cord. Iridectomy scissors were used to carefully incise thisisolated portion of the spinal cord, thereby transecting thecorticospinal tract. Inspection of the lesion and visualization of thecentral gray commissure verified that the corticospinal tract had beencompletely transected.

After the dorsal hemisection was completed, the exposed spinal cord wascovered with gelfoam (Pharmacia, Upjohn; Kalamazoo, Mich.), and theoverlying muscles and skin were sutured. During the recovery period,bladders were manually expressed until spontaneous voiding returned atapproximately 1-2 days post-injury.

Example 14 Gross Observation of Longitudinal H&E Stained Section of theThoracic Spinal Cord

Assessment of temporal invasion/activation of the various cell types ofinterest was investigated within the lesion site and the surroundingtissue. Gross observation of longitudinal H&E stained sections of thethoracic spinal cord revealed a cavity at the location of the initialinjury (FIG. 5). Between 48 hours and 4 dpi the size of this cavityincreased (FIGS. 5 a, b) and expanded longitudinally from 4 to 16 dpi(FIGS. 5 a-d). This expansion extended a greater distance (1-2 mm) inthe rostral direction than the caudal direction (0-0.5 mm). Thecavitation spread was found primarily in the white matter of the spinalcord. The cavitation, both in the initial injury site and rostral/caudalto it, appeared to be decreased at the 5 weeks post-injury time point(data not shown). No observable difference in cavity size was seenbetween the control and light treated groups, however there appeared tobe a decrease in longitudinal spread of the rostral cavitation in the 14dpi light treated tissue (FIG. 5 d).

Due to the clustering behavior of cells within and surrounding thelesion following spinal cord injury, and the inability to discernindividual cell nuclei, assessment of numbers of individual cells wasnot possible. Therefore, measurement of tissue area occupied byimmuno-positive label within a defined target space was used to assesscell invasion/activation. As an increase in immunolabeling does notnecessarily reflect an increase in cell number, this measurement is amethod of quantifying the magnitude of a cellular response, both interms of cell invasion and activation. The current work does not attemptto distinguish between these two cellular response parameters.

Example 15 Dorsal Hemisection Lesion of the Corticospinal Tract

In one embodiment of the invention, adult female Sprague-Dawley ratswere randomly assigned to light treated (n=25) or control (n=25) groups.Dorsal hemisection was performed by an investigator blinded to groupassignment. A dorsal hemisection was performed at T9 by passing a suturebeneath the dorsal funiculuar and carefully incising the isolatedportion of the spinal cord, transecting the corticospinal tract. Thetransection was confirmed by lifting the suture through the lesion.Inspection of the lesion and visualization of the central graycommissure also verified transection of the CST. LT was applied to thetreated group in the same fashion as specified in Example 6.

Example 16 Analysis of Cell Invasion and Activation

Spinal cord tissue from rats was collected at 48 hours, 4, 14, and 16days and 5 weeks post-injury. At each time point, 5 rats per treatmentgroup were deeply anesthetized with 10% chloral hydrate (1 ml/100 g,I.P.) and euthanized via intracardiac perfusion with 4%paraformaldehyde. The thoracic spinal cord at the lesion site and 3 mmrostral and 5 mm caudal to the lesion site was dissected, post-fixed for24 hours in 4% paraformaldehyde, and cryoprotected for 24 hours in 3 0%sucrose. The 10 mm spinal cord segments were sectioned longitudinally ona freezing microtome at 20 μm, from the dorsal aspect of the spinal cordthrough the level of the gray commissure. Sections were serially mountedonto 10 slides, with 3 sections per slide. One slide from each rat wasprocessed for histological analysis using an H&E stain and one slide/ratwas processed for each cell type under investigation. Immunolabeling wasrepeated for each animal to ensure labeling efficacy. Negative controls,in which primary antibody was not added during immunohistochemistry,were run for each cell type (FIG. 6 i).

The tissue was rehydrated and blocked with an appropriate blockingsolution. Tissue was incubated overnight with primary antibodies(Table 1) followed by incubation with an appropriate fluorescentlylabeled secondary antibody (Jackson Immunochemicals, West Grove, Pa.) atroom temperature for 30 minutes.

The lesion site and the surrounding tissue of at least 6 sections peranimal per antibody were digitally photographed using a Leica/Spotsystem (Version 2.2 for Windows, Diagnostic Instruments, Inc. SterlingHeights, Mich.). The proportional area of tissue occupied byimmunohistochemically stained cellular profiles within a defined targetarea (the lesion site and surrounding tissue) was measured using theScion Image Analysis system (www.rsb.info.nih.gov/nih-image/) asdescribed previously [Popovich et al., Supra (1997)]. All tissuesections were coded prior to measurement to prevent bias and all imagebackgrounds were normalized prior to quantitation.

Statistical Analysis.

Area of spinal cord occupied by cell type is expressed as mean+/−SEM.Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis with Dunn's post-test was used tocompare means (due to large mean number of pixels and large standarderrors leading to the necessity of using a non-parametric test). Testswere performed using the Graph Pad Prism Program, Version 3.02 forWindows (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego, Calif.) and SPSS 11.0 forWindows (SPSS., Inc., Chicago, Ill.).

Neutrophils, macrophages/activated microglia and astrocytes were theprimary cells found in the lesioned spinal cord. T lymphocytes, Blymphocytes and Schwann cells were also identified. However, based onour measurement of the number of immunopositive pixels in the areasurrounding the lesion, there was approximately 80% less (p<0.0001)immunolabeling of T and B lymphocytes and Schwann cells thanmacrophages/activated microglia and astrocytes.

Neutrophils

Immunohistochemical labeling with the antibody against the RP3 clonerevealed small, round, cellular profiles that were detected at all timepoints investigated in both control and light treated groups (FIGS. 6 a,b). These cells chiefly bordered the lesion site, but some cellularprofiles were perivascular or adjacent to the meninges. The largestamount of positive labeling occurred at 4 dpi. This labeling wassignificantly increased at this time point for both light treated andcontrol groups when compared to all other time points (p<0.05; FIG. 6c). However, when the amount of positive immunolabeling for neutrophilsin the light treated and control tissues were analyzed, there was nosignificant difference at any time point (FIG. 6 c). Immunolabeling forneutrophils decreased after 4 days. At 14 dpi, the remaining neutrophilsin the control tissue were found not only along the edges of the lesionbut also 1 mm caudal to the lesion edge. Neutrophil migration was notfound in any of the light treated tissue.

Macrophages/Activated Microglia

Macrophages and activated microglia are not distinguishable from eachother in the mammalian CNS since activated microglia express the samecell surface molecules and cytokines and have the same round morphologyas blood borne macrophages [Popovich et al., J. Comp Neurol 377:443-464(1997); Carlson et al., Exp Neurol 151:77-88 (1998)]. Immunolabeling forED1, an antibody against a macrophage/microglia lysosomal glycoproteinrevealed many of these large, amoeboid cells in the injured spinal cord(FIGS. 6 d-h). At 48 hours post-injury, immunopositivemacrophages/activated microglia were located in and around bloodvessels, in the dorsal roots and along the edges of the lesion site,with no infiltration into the surrounding tissue. At this time point,there were observably fewer labeled macrophages/activated microglia inthe light treated group than in the control group. By 4 dpi, a largecavity had formed and macrophages/activated microglia were localized tothe lesion edges. Similar to the 48 hour situation, there weresignificantly fewer immunolabeled cells at 4 dpi in the light treatedtissue compared to the control tissue. By 14 dpi, the immuno-positivecells were found along the edges of the lesion and within the lesioncavity (FIG. 2 d), and had also invaded the tissue rostral and caudal tothe lesion site, reaching up to 4 mm rostral to the lesion and 2-3 mmcaudal. This cellular migration was predominantly in the white matter ofthe dorsal funiculus around small cavities in the rostral/caudal tissue.The light treatment group had less migration of macrophage/activatedmicroglia at this time point (FIG. 6 e), with migration reachingapproximately, 1 mm in the rostral direction and absent in the caudaldirection. At 16 dpi, there appeared to be fewer ED1 labeled cells inthe control tissue, so that control and light treated tissue lookedsimilar (FIGS. 6 g, h).

In both control and light treated groups, ED1 expression showed aninitial peak at 48 hours post-injury and a subsequent peak at 14 dpi,with a decline at 4 dpi. Both peaks were reduced in the light treatedgroup, with significant reductions in ED 1 expression at 4 and 14 dpi inthe light treated group (p<0.001, FIG. 60. Moreover, ED1 expression wasfurther reduced at 5 weeks post-injury in the light treated groupcompared to controls (p<0.00 1, FIG. 60. While there wasn't asignificant decrease (p=0.156) in EDI expression in the light treatedgroup at 48 hours post-injury, a trend toward suppression of ED 1expression in the light treated group in comparison to the control groupwas found.

Astrocytes

Astrocytes were detected using an antibody against GFAP, an intermediatefilament primarily expressed in astrocytes. Immunolabeling with thisantibody revealed long thin processes that were heavily labeled near thelesion site in both the light treated and control groups. GFAP positiveprocesses were also found throughout the entire length (10 mm) of thesections studied, extending 3 mm rostral and 5 mm caudal to the lesion.At 48 hours post-injury, heavy GFAP positive labeling was found tooutline the lesion in all rats of the control group and GFAP positiveprocesses were found throughout the 10 mm section in 3 of the 5 rats ofthe control group (FIG. 7 a). Light treated tissue, however, had only alight band of GFAP positive label near the lesion edge and along themeninges/blood vessels in all 5 rats (FIG. 7 b). By 4 dpi, however, GFAPlabeling in the light treated tissue had increased to the degreeobserved in the 48 hour control tissue in 3 of the 5 rats. In bothgroups, immunolabeling for GFAP decreased over the remaining timeperiods (FIGS. 7 c-f), eventually becoming restricted to the lesion siteby 5 weeks post-injury. Interestingly, at 16 dpi, 2 days after lighttreatment ended, there was a slight increase in rostral/caudal extensionof GFAP labeling in 3 of the 5 rats in the light treated group (FIG. 7f).

Quantitative analysis revealed that there was a significant decrease inGFAP expression in the light treated group at 48 hours post-injurycompared to the control group (p<0.05), and a significant increase at 4dpi compared to the control group (FIG. 7 g, p<0.01). Expression peakedin the control group at 48 hours post-injury, and declined significantly(p<0.05) thereafter.

T Lymphocytes

T lymphocytes were detected in spinal cord tissue using UCHL1, anantibody against the surface glycoprotein CD45. Cells that wereimmuno-positive for UCHLI, were small, round cells and were found invery low numbers. T lymphocytes were restricted to the lesion edge andin the acellular matrix within the lesion cavity (FIGS. 8 a, b).

Statistical analysis of UCHL1 expression revealed that there was a peakin both the control and light treated groups at 48 hours post-injury,with a decline in expression through 16 dpi (FIG. 8 c). UCHLI expressionin the light treated group was lower than the control group at 48 hours,14 and 16 dpi, with a significant decrease found at 14 dpi (p<0.001).

B Lymphocytes

B lymphocytes, identified using the L26 antibody against CD20, amembrane spanning protein in B lymphocytes, were also found in very lownumbers from 4 to 16 dpi. At the time points studied, L26 expression wasfound to be in small, round cells near the edges of the spinal cordlesion (FIG. 8 d) or within the cavity, with 1-2 mm migration caudal tothe lesion in the white matter tract at 116 dpi in the control grouponly. There was no migration observed in the light treated group.Quantitative analysis of L26 expression found no significant differencesbetween the light treated and control groups, although a non-significanttrend towards a suppression of B lymphocyte activation was observed inthe light treated group at 16 dpi (FIG. 8 e).

Schwann Cells

Also present in very low numbers were Schwann cells, identified byantibody labeling of S100, a neural specific Ca²⁺ binding protein. Thesesmall, circular cells were found at all time points investigated,primarily along the edges of the lesion (FIGS. 8 f, g), without anymigration rostral or caudal to the lesion. There was no significantdifference in expression between LPLI treated and control tissue at anytime point (FIG. 8 h).

Axons have the inherent ability to regrow following injury. Altering thespinal cord environment may support this regeneration. Transcutaneousapplication of light significantly affected invasion and activation of anumber of cells that have a profound influence on recovery after SCI,including macrophages, microglia, astrocytes and T lymphocytes. Theresults of this study show that LPLI not only caused a significantinhibition of activation and invasion of several cell types, but alsoshifted the peak activation time in other cell types after SCI. Thisalteration in the temporal course of cellular reactions results in achange in the spinal cord environment at a time when axons are sproutingand entering the lesion zone (Fishman and Mattu, 1993). These resultsserve as a foundation for the novel concept of using transcutaneousapplication of light to promote axonal regeneration and functionalrecovery after SCI.

Example 17 RT-PCR Analysis of Gene Expression

At 6 hours or 4 days post-injury, rats (n=5/group/time point) weredeeply anesthetized with chloral hydrate (1 ml/100 g, I.P., 10%solution) and euthanised by decapitation. The 5 mm of the spinal cordencompassing the lesion site and the area immediately rostral and caudalto the lesion site were dissected rapidly and placed in 500 μl ofRNAlator solution (Ambion, Austin, Tex.). Total cellular RNA wasextracted using the Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.)/phenol (Sigma,St. Louis, Mo.)/chloroform (Sigma) technique and reverse transcribedusing First-Strand Synthesis beads (Amersham Pharmacia, Piscataway,N.J.) as per the protocol of the manufacturers (Invitrogen and AmershamPharmacia). Resultant cDNA was amplified using the CytoXpress MultiplexInflammatory Set 1 (Biosource, Camarillo, Calif.) or primers specificfor genes of interest (Table 1). Unless otherwise noted, primersequences were obtained with the use of the Primer3 program (Rozen andSkaletsky, 2000), with complete cDNA sequences obtained from the NIHGeneBank Entrez program. Negative (no sample added to PCR mix) andpositive (provided with kit) controls were included in each PCR assay toensure that contamination was avoided.

PCR products were assessed by electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gelcontaining ethidium bromide (Sigma). PCR bands were visualized using UVlight and photographed. Scion Image (www.rsb.info.nih.gov/nih-image/)was used to measure band pixel density, reflecting relative geneexpression. Adjustment was performed to normalize pixel intensity forsamples run on different gels in order to compare the data. Pixeldensity for each band was obtained and normalized against the endogenouscontrol, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). All data ispresented as the ratio of the gene of interest to GAPDH.

Resultant relative gene expression is presented as mean ratio+/−SEM.One-way ANOVA was used to compare groups. Tukey's Multiple Comparisontest served as a post-test to the ANOVA for comparison of individualgroups. All statistical analyses were performed using the GraphPad PrismProgram, Version 3.02 for Windows (GraphPad Software, Inc. San Diego,Calif.).

Comparison of resultant bands to the molecular weight marker confirmedthat each investigated gene appeared at the expected molecular weight(data not shown). Analysis of gene expression at 6 hours and 4 dayspost-injury revealed that all genes were detected at all time pointsinvestigated, and no significant difference (p=0.6740) was found inexpression of GAPDH between the control and LT groups (FIG. 9).Expression profiles from each sample were only included if expressionfor the internal control, GAPDH, could be detected. Gene expression ofGAPDH for one sample of the LT-4 day group was insufficient formeasurement, so this sample was not included in any data analysis.Therefore, data for this group are from four animals; all other groupswere composed of five rats.

Example 18 Pro-inflammatory Cytokine expression in LPLI treated animals

The expression of four pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL1β, TNFα, IL6 andGM-CSF, was assessed at 6 hours and 4 days post-injury. LPLI immediatelyfollowing injury resulted in a significant suppression (p<0.001; FIGS.10 a, b) of IL6 expression at 6 hours post-injury. A 171-fold decreasein expression of IL6 in the LT group as compared to the control groupwas detected at this time point. By 4 days, transcription of IL6 hadsignificantly decreased by 58% in the control group (p<0.001, FIG. 10a). The expression in the LT group remained depressed from 6 hours to 4days, but there was no significant difference between IL6 levels at 4days post-injury between the control and LT groups. There was nosignificant difference between control and LT groups in expression ofTNFα, IL1β and GM-CSF at 6 hours post-injury or 4 days post-injury(FIGS. 10 c-e). However, a trend was found in expression of GM-CSF atboth 6 hours and 4 days post-injury, with a 10 and 3 fold decrease inexpression found between the LT and control groups, respectively (FIG.10 e). A trend toward increase in transcription of TNFα in the LT groupat 4 days post-injury was shown, although this increase was notsignificantly different from the control group (FIG. 10 d).

Example 19 Chemokines Expression in LPLI Treated Animals

Two chemokine genes were examined in this study. Analysis of mRNAquantities for MIP1α and MCP-1 were performed at 6 hours and 4 dayspost-injury. Quantitation of transcription revealed that LT resulted ina significant decrease in MCP-1 at 6 hours post-injury (p<0.01, FIGS. 11a, b). The control group at this time point was found to have 66%greater expression of MCP than the LT group. This reduction inexpression continued through 4 days post-injury, with a two-folddecrease in MCP-1 expression in the LT group, although this differencebetween the two groups was not significant. No significant differencesbetween the LT or control group were found at 6 hours or 4 dayspost-injury for MIP1α (FIG. 11 c); however there was a five-foldincrease in MIP1α expression at 4 days post-injury in the LT group.

Example 20 ICAM, iNOS, TGFβ Expression in LPLI Treated Animals

Gene expression was also evaluated for iNOS, ICAM and TGFβ. Analysis ofgene expression revealed that LT resulted in a five-fold suppression ofiNOS transcription at 6 hours post-injury (p<0.01; FIG. 12 a), and afour-fold decrease in iNOS at 4 days post-injury that did not reachstatistical significance. Again, similar to the situation with IL6 andMCP-1, iNOS expression was significantly decreased (p<0.01, FIG. 12 a)in the control group from 6 hours to 4 days post-injury, but theexpression levels were relatively constant over this time period in theLT group. TGFβ and ICAM, however, demonstrated a trend towards increaseat both 6 hours and 4 days after injury in the LT group, although thisincrease did not reach statistical significance (FIGS. 12 b, c).

Example 21 Alternative LT Treatment Paradigms

To determine the efficacy of other treatment protocols using LT, ratswere assigned to receive either: a) treatment at the lesion site for 14days post-injury, b) treatment at the lesion site for 21 dayspost-injury, c) treatment at the lesion site for 14 days post-injury,with treatment of the motor cortex using 4 J/cm² dosage on days 11 to 15post-injury (dual treatment), and d) treatment of the lesion site for 7days post-injury followed by progressive movement of the laser 1 mmcaudal to the lesion site every day for 7 days (moving treatment).Axonal regeneration was assessed three weeks post-injury using mini-rubyretrograde tract tracing as previously described. Significant increasesin the distances traveled by axons were found in the dual treatment andmoving treatment groups (FIG. 13). No significant differences in axonalnumber at any distance were found among the treatment groups (FIG. 14).

Example 22 VEGF, NT3 and BDNF Growth Factor Production in LPLI TreatedAnimals

Growth factor production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),neurotrophin-3 (NT3) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) werealso evaluated 3 weeks post-injury. A significant increase in VEGFproduction was found in the tissue of the 14 day treatment group at boththe lesion site and 10 mm caudal to the lesion site (FIG. 15). Nodifferences were found with other treatment paradigms or the othergrowth factors evaluated (NT3 and BDNF). This suggests that LT mayaffect the vascularization of the spinal cord following injury, whichmay promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery.

Example 23 Gene Expression in LPLI Treated Animals

Gene expression of MCP-1, MIP1α, IL1β, TNFα or IL6 was also evaluated atone hour post-injury using the RT-PCR technique previously described. Nosignificant differences were noted between the treated and controlgroups at one hour. FIG. 16 depicts gene expression of MCP-1 (ratio ofmRNA to GAPDH) at one hour, six hours and four days post-injury. Geneexpression of VEGF, BDNF and NT3 growth factors at six hours post-injurywere also assessed. No significant differences were identified (FIGS.17, 18), but a trend toward significance was noted at longer post-injuryintervals. These outcomes suggest that LT may affect growth factorexpression after injury and thus promote axonal regeneration.

Although the examples provided above suggest possible mechanisms bywhich LT may promote axonal preservation, axonal regeneration and/orfunctional recovery of the spinal cord, use of LT to treat SCI patientsis not limited to the mechanisms provided. LT may also act through othermechanisms of action, including but not limited to, modulation ofvascular effects such as the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier,cytotoxic swelling, hemorrage, neovascularization, neuronal effects onWallerian degeneration, Schwannosis and/or demyelination, and effects onneuronal calcium concentrations, ATP production, generally cellularactivity and metabolism, changes to cellular transcription themselves,or a combination of factors. In addition to direct effects on the spinalcord tissue, LT may also affect the cerebrospinal fluid, meningealtissue, and spinal cord vasculature. The mechanism of action may alsovary, depending upon the wavelength and dosage of LT used. In oneembodiment, a treatment protocol with multiple wavelength and/or dosagesare used to provide a particular LT treatment.

In one embodiment, LT is preferably performed continuously throughoutthe treatment period. In other embodiments, LT is performed withalternating periods of irradiation and rest during the treatment period.Examples of alternating treatment protocols include but are not limitedto two weeks of continuous treatment every three months, one hour perday for three months, alternating 12 hour periods of irradiation andrest, alternating 50 minutes of irradiation and 10 minutes of rest,alternating 4 seconds of irradiation and 1 second of rest, and pulsedirradiation at 2 Hz to about 20 Hz. One skilled in the art willunderstand that any of a variety of treatment protocols may be used withLT.

In one embodiment, multiple light sources are used to treat the spinalcord injury. In one embodiment, multiple light sources are initiated atdifferent times during a treatment protocol. In some embodiments, thewavelengths of the multiple light sources may differ. In someembodiments the treatment field size and location may change during thetreatment protocol.

In one embodiment of the invention, a neuroregenerative dosage of lighttherapy is delivered to a target area generally about a spinal cordinjury site. In one embodiment, the neuroregenerative dosage of lighttherapy is capable of a power intensity of at least about 0.01 mW/cm² atthe desired target site. In another embodiment, the neuroregenerativedosage of light therapy is a light therapy capable of a power intensityof at least about 0.1 mW/cm² at the skin surface overlying the targetsite. In one embodiment, the light source or sources are positionedabout 50 cm or less from the skin surface overlying the target site ofspinal cord injury. In another embodiment, the light source ispositioned about 20 cm or less from the skin surface overlying thetarget site of spinal cord injury. In still another embodiment, thelight source is preferably positioned about 0.5 cm to about 2.0 cm fromthe skin surface overlying the target site of spinal cord injury. Inanother embodiment, the neuroregenerative dosage of light therapy iscalculated based upon the distance between the skin surface and at leasta portion of the spinal environment. The spinal environment generallyincludes the spinal cord, cerebrospinal fluid, meninges, spinalvasculature and adjacent structures.

While the methods disclosed herein have been particularly shown anddescribed with references to embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Forthe embodiments described above, the steps of the methods need not beperformed sequentially. The above description is for the purpose ofteaching the person of ordinary skill in the art how to practice thedisclosed methods, and it is not intended to detail all those obviousmodifications and variations of it which will become apparent to theskilled worker upon reading the description. It is intended, however,that all such obvious modifications and variations be included withinthe scope of this description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a patient having a spinalcord injury, the method comprising modulating at least one physiologicalactivity of the patient by transcutaneously irradiating at least aportion of a spinal environment of the patient with light having a powerdensity of at least about 0.01 mW/cm² at the portion of the spinalenvironment, wherein the spinal environment comprises the spinal cord,the spinal vasculature, the meninges, and the cerebrospinal fluid.